Lukashenka approves 18 February as local elections date

Elections to local councils was the main topic of the meeting between Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka and Central Elections Commission chairperson Lidziya Yarmoshyna. The head of state expressed his support to the proposal to set the local elections date for 18 February 2018.

"The main thing for me is to set the date, come up with financing and a draft decree to be signed. I think mid-February or even 18 February as we discussed earlier will be good. After all, February is a quieter month," Belarusian president's press office quotes Alikasandr Lukashenka as saying.

Talking about finances for the election campaign, the head of state stressed the money should be spent economically. He proposed to save at the cost of using ballot boxes or voting booths from the previous campaigns.

On the salary of election commission members, Lukashenka said: "Wages of people involved in organizing and holding the elections are a sacred thing." 

According to Lukashenka, he ordered his administration to prepare polling stations and assist in the organization of the campaign. "After all, it is a political campaign. The Administration of the President needs to do its part of the job. Central Elections Commission will organize everything according to the electoral law: ballot papers, trainings for election commission members," he said.